Question Papers For Board Examinations 2018

Class – XII

Subject – Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India

Subject : Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India

Class : XII

Year : 2018

General Instructions :

• Please check that this question paper contains 15 printed pages.
• Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.
• Please check that this question paper contains 5 questions.
• Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting it.
• 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the answer-book during this period. 

Questions :

SECTION A

(Reading Skills)

(a) Read the passage given below and answer the following questions :

Vāstu-vidyā or Śilpaśāstra - the science of architecture- is one of the technical subjects studied in ancient India, along with Āyurveda (science of medicine), dhanurveda (science of archery), jyotisa (astronomy), etc. In the earliest texts, the word Vāstu occurs in the sense of a building site or the building itself. Later on, other subjects such as temple construction, town planning, public and private buildings and forts were included in the discipline in which the construction of a structure was regarded as a sacred act. In the Atharvaveda there are references to different parts of the building such as sitting-room, inner apartment, room for sacred fire, cattleshed and reception room (Atharvaveda, IX.3). The Sānkhāyana Grhya Sūtra (c. 500 BCE) describes in three chapters the ceremonials performed for constructing a building. Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra (c. 300 BCE) deals with town planning, fortifications and other structures of civil nature. Samarāngana Sūtradhāra, authored by King Bhoja (1010 -55 CE), discusses methods of examination of a site, analysis of the soil, systems of measurement, qualifications of the sthapati (architect) and his assistants, building materials, consecration of the plan followed by construction of foundation, basal mouldings and technical details for each part of the plan, design and elevation. The two principal south Indian texts, Mayamata (1000 CE) and Mānasāra (1300 CE), share a common perception of architectural plan and design of the southern (Drāvida) vintage but while the former has a practical outlook, the latter develops the theoretical side of the science.

(i) Explain Vastu as explained in ancient texts.
(ii) Name any two subjects that were part of studies in ancient India.
(iii) Describe the concept of building as mentioned in Atharvaveda.
(iv) What does the King Bhoja’s text cover under the architecture ?
(v) Describe the perception of architecture by Mayamata and Mānasāra. 

(b) Read the passage given below and answer the following questions :

Miniature paintings are executed on books and albums, and on perishable material such as paper and cloth. The Palas of Bengal were the pioneers of miniature painting in India. The art of miniature painting reached its zenith during the Mughal period. The tradition of miniature paintings was continued by the painters of different Rajasthani schools of painting, like Bundi, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Marwar and Mewar. The Ragamala paintings also belong to this school, as do the Company paintings produced during the British Raj. Unfortunately, early miniatures in wood and cloth have been completely lost, the earliest extant belonging to the late 8th or mid 9th centuries of the Pala period in eastern India, are representations of Buddhist yantra, graphic symbols which were visual aids to the mantra and the Dharani. Conforming to the canons of iconography, these Buddhist miniatures deify Buddhist thought such as Prajñāpāramitā, who, as the mother of all the Buddhas, was the personification of esoteric knowledge. The Buddhist paintings were rawn in red and white, forming colour planes. The inspiration came from the metal images, giving an illusion of relief. Miniatures were painted according to the rules of mural painting, the rule of proportions being regulated by strict codes of measurement. Effects such as foreshortening were derived from the study of sculpture rather than from reality. 
The Jain paintings gave rise to the school of Gujarat, from where it spread further to Rajasthan and Malwa. This originated Rajput painting and the subsequent fusion of the Indian and Persian styles in Mughal art.

(i) When and in which part of India did the miniature painting start ?
(ii) Define a miniature painting.
(iii) Name four Rajasthani schools of miniature painting.
(iv) Mention two salient features of Buddhist miniature paintings.
(v) Mention two major features of miniature paintings.   

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Courtesy: CBSE